BX7100 attachments (backhoe?)

[BadDog]

B7100 attachments (backhoe?)

First some background:

I just purchased a rough little B7100 4x4 apparently made in 1989. It's all there and working so far as I've determined, unfortunately the hobs meter numbers are completely bleached out and unreadable. It also is a little hard starting and has a little blow-by when hot. It came with FEL, large framed 9" Ford Auger, and one of those light weight tumbler gannon-like light duty landscape drag boxes (I won't puff it up by calling it a "Gannon", but it'll help with what I need).

Down side is it looks VERY sad. Someone apparently didn't know how to use the loader and dumped a load of rocks(?) over the back side crushing the front of the hood. And it's been setting in the Phoenix sun for at least a decade, so very faded and sun damaged. Tires (mainly front) are dry rotted a bit, but holding up so far. And the hydro lines will likely be changed out before long (before they let go hopefully). But I got it for less than what a bare Yanmar of that size brings in this area, so I'm happy so far.

My question regards additional implements. I bought it to help around my 1.3 acre horse property (short sale, fixer-upper, no horses). I really need the help due to leg injury problems, particularly since my son moved out on his own. One thing that would REALLY help is a small backhoe. I know it won't be digging septic tanks, but for trenching and such a light duty hoe would help. That said, what are the things I need to look at for a hoe that will work with this little fella? Brands, mounts, frames, dimensions, what? I have pretty much no idea what to look for, or avoid. I have read that 3 point mount hoes really risk damage to the tractor, but for my judicious (no loaning out!) use, perhaps it is worth considering?

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Re: B7100 attachments (backhoe?)

3pth hoe's really are that bad for occasional use. If you were digging all day everyday then I'd say no and get a sub frame mount. It's really all in how you treat it and use it weather or not it will last. Some people can break an anvil.

New hoe's arent cheap somewhere in the 4-6k price range. And used are hard to come by, most are worn slam out and need a ton of work.

 

[BadDog]

Re: B7100 attachments (backhoe?)

And again, thanks...

On the 3pt, that's what I suspected, but it's good to get confirmation. I had to clear around a foundation about 1' deep and 2' wide for about 40'+ with shovel and pick with wheelbarrow. That was 3 weeks ago and I'm still feeling the effects in both my (nominally) good and (clearly) bad legs. I was really surprised by how bad it was, never been that bad before. As they say, getting older isn't for sissies, and both knees are wrapped even now. Even a light duty hoe would have made it easier and faster without the lingering effects. However, with our coleche clay soil being almost like concrete, it can't be TOO light duty. Probably best to get one with a small bucket so PSI is high but structural load remains low. Still faster than breaking with a pick axe and shoveling into a wheel barrow...

Maybe I'll eventually find something I can justify paying for that is still functional (or easily fixed). Until then, perhaps I can find a single tine chisel plow or small bottom/turning plow to at least reduce the pick work for areas I can get to with it (obviously not the foundation trench).

 

[hodge]

My local Kubota dealer has an older Kubota B7100 with backhoe and loader- really far away from you. Eric is right- a used backhoe is very hard to come by. You will most likely have to travel for it.
You might check with www.coldwatertractors.com- they build backhoes, and their prices are reasonable.
You might also look into one of the little backhoes that are stand-alone, and are moved around with a truck or tractor. One of those in itself would be heavier than a backhoe fitted to a B7100.

 

[kubotasam]

Maybe it is just here in the northeast but I see used backhoes quite often on Craigs list. Check every day and be prepared to call or go as soon as you see one. You can use Search Tempest to check multiple cities /states at one time.
A Woods Bh750 or Bh 650 would make a good fit on your tractor. A Kubota BL4520 or Bl4530 is the same as the Woods 650 / 750. Either model can be subframe or 3 point hitch mounted.
If you end up with a 3 point mounted backhoe (any make) be sure to put the correct locking device on your 3 point arms so the hoe can not accidentally lift up while you are using it.

 

[seanbarr]

I'm with hodge. If I'm gonna go with a backhoe, I'd get the stand-alone, towable type before I put one on my tractor (B7100D). If you plan to use it quite rarely, perhaps rent one (and more powerful) for a day or two. Just take the total cost of buying, fitting & maintaining one vs total renting costs over a 5-10 year period to help with your choices.

 

[BadDog]

Thanks for all the advice.

I've considered most of it, but most of the time I "need it", it's late when I'm working after sun down (when it cools down!), or on the weekend, and trying to find/get something always looses out to "just get it done". For septic tank, lines, that sort of thing, ABSOLUTELY. Recently I rented a trencher to put in just over 500' of new irrigation lines, and also used it to break the soil for the oleanders planted along side. Great value, no need to have one. But I'm not so sure about renting/having a hoe. I have a feeling that it would be much like the tractor itself. Something that costs a lot, sets around a lot, but invaluable when needed, and keeps it's value so the money is more like a deposit than cost as long as you take good care of it (and buy smart used, plus a little luck) so that you are only out the upkeep and minimal repairs.

As for the stand alone, I had mostly discounted those, perhaps wrongly? Those I've seen have been Harbor Freight and the like, not really inspiring confidence. And seems the 3 point mount would be far better in terms of convenience, particularly for more awkward work, like the recent trench along a building wall/foundation. Maybe I need to rethink that.

 

[hodge]

Thanks for all the advice.

I've considered most of it, but most of the time I "need it", it's late when I'm working after sun down (when it cools down!), or on the weekend, and trying to find/get something always looses out to "just get it done". For septic tank, lines, that sort of thing, ABSOLUTELY. Recently I rented a trencher to put in just over 500' of new irrigation lines, and also used it to break the soil for the oleanders planted along side. Great value, no need to have one. But I'm not so sure about renting/having a hoe. I have a feeling that it would be much like the tractor itself. Something that costs a lot, sets around a lot, but invaluable when needed, and keeps it's value so the money is more like a deposit than cost as long as you take good care of it (and buy smart used, plus a little luck) so that you are only out the upkeep and minimal repairs.

As for the stand alone, I had mostly discounted those, perhaps wrongly? Those I've seen have been Harbor Freight and the like, not really inspiring confidence. And seems the 3 point mount would be far better in terms of convenience, particularly for more awkward work, like the recent trench along a building wall/foundation. Maybe I need to rethink that.

I would definitely prefer a tractor mounted backhoe, but I suggested it because it is an option. Coming across one might be easier than a used tractor mounted backhoe.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Check in with fellow member 6acers on his Harbor Freight towable backhoe. He ordered one and took like 8 or 9 weeks for it to arrive. He says he's happy with it but it needs to be anchored to something heavy to work properly.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

See what I mean right here....

http://richmond.craigslist.org/grd/3852773528.html

 

[kubotasam]

See what I mean right here....

http://richmond.craigslist.org/grd/3852773528.html

Its kind of hard to tell from the picture but that looks like a pretty good deal to me. Most all of my equipment started as a craigs list find that needs repair.

 

[boxsters]

See what I mean right here....
Hi, I have a B7100 hst 4dr front loader and a towable backhoe with 12' reach, 12" bucket and 8hp. It works very well and I can dig with the backhoe while moving dirt with tractor.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I did stumble across this company on the net a few days ago. They have a 5 foot hoe for $3,600. It doesn't look to cheaply built, it might hold up well for quite some time.

http://www.value-leader.com/categories/Backhoe/